Mary: The Tabernacle of the Lord

The address by Bishop Fulton Sheen draws a profound parallel between the Christmas story and the mysteries of faith, focusing on Mary, the Eucharist, and the holy hour. Like the humble manger that welcomed Christ at his birth, Mary becomes the living tabernacle, carrying the Word made flesh. Bishop Sheen weaves the narrative of Christmas into the themes of divine providence, sacrifice, and redemption, emphasizing how Mary, chosen from all eternity, became the vessel through which heaven touched earth. Just as the shepherds and Magi found joy and salvation in Christ’s presence, Mary’s fiat brought forth not only the Savior but also the first Holy Communion—a mystical union of her humanity with Christ’s divinity.

In the prophecy of Simeon, Bishop Sheen invites us to view the sword piercing Mary’s heart through the lens of the nativity. The joy of Christ’s birth is shadowed by the foreshadowing of His sacrifice, just as the Incarnation anticipates the Cross. Mary, like a mother presenting her child at the temple, offers Him to the Father, embodying the ultimate Christmas gift: her Son’s life for the world. The narrative transforms the Christmas cradle into the altar of Calvary, where Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity are poured out for redemption. The sacred heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, united in suffering and love, shine as symbols of hope and divine mercy for a broken world.

In the spirit of Christmas, Bishop Sheen calls on all believers to reflect on the holy hour as a response to Christ’s gift of Himself in the Eucharist. Just as the shepherds and wise men approached the Christ child with awe, modern disciples are invited to approach the Blessed Sacrament with reverence and love. Through adoration, the faithful not only unite with the Christ of Bethlehem but also join Mary in her mission of radiating Christ’s love to the world. In this Christmas perspective, Bishop Sheen’s message becomes a call to embrace the humility of the manger, the sacrifice of the Cross, and the glory of the Eucharist, drawing hearts closer to the divine mystery that began on a silent, holy night.